The Junos Unplugged: Inside The TD Music Greenroom

Did you catch the Juno Awards this past weekend? The weekend was an epic reminder of our homegrown talent in every genre and we’re so very proud! (Alanis Morrisette absolutely brought the house down!) Events leading up to the actual televised awards ceremony were equally as fun and exciting. We were invited to get the VIP experience with the TD Music program.

What went down was incredible. We knew that we were in for a treat of musicians dropping into the intimate space for jam sessions.

One after another the talent arrived and casually took to the stage including Karl Wolf, Eleven Past One, Connor Ross, North of Nowhere, eh440, Stacey Kay, and many more. A few young rising stars took the stage as well. It was an inspiring afternoon!

TD Music Greenroom at the JUNOS 2015 with artists Karl Wolf and Eleven Past One

Karl Wolf started with a beautiful song he wrote for his mother and continued to entertain us with his popular songs “Africa” and “Summertime”. I had a chance to chat with Karl after his set and mentioned that he pulled on my heartstrings as a mom and that she must be really proud of him. All the musicians casually hung around the room and mingled with the crowd and truly appeared to be enjoying themselves and feeling right at home. No attitude and all gratitude.

What a great experience! I had just recently joined the TD Music Access Program (if you’re a customer you can too!) and had a chance to catch up with Chris Stamper, SVP, Corporate Marketing at TD Canada Trust, and discussed how the bank supports the arts. I had known for years about their national literacy program including a free book for every child in grade 1. But the music program was something new to me.

“We’ve been involved with music for over 10 years both at the national level and at community level,” says Stamper. “We sponsor the major Jazz Festivals in Canada and over 50 community based music festivals in many genres from blues, roots, urban, ethnic. And as you know, we’re proud supporters of the Junos, CARAS, and MusiCounts.”

With their involvement with MusiCounts, TD helps bring music to people that would otherwise may not have access to. The support includes instruments, education, programs and grants. “As you probably know as a customer, we’re all about comfortable banking and you’ve seen our green chair, and we believe that music is comforting to everybody so our interest in music is a unifying force and it’s consistent with who we are as a brand and who we stand for,” says Stamper.

The bank has teamed up with a variety of music initiatives including The Coalition for Music Education in Canada that supports young people learning music in schools and in particular with their signature program Music Monday. You’ll be hearing the song “We Are One” by young talent Connor Ross on the airways officially play nation-wide on Music Monday celebrations, May 4th. Connor was named the winner of the 2014 Music Monday Anthem Search – his song is to inspire all Canadians of all ages and all backgrounds to recognize and celebrate the vital role music plays in our culture, our communities and in our schools.

The TD Music Greenroom VIP experience extended beyond the music as everyone (including the musicians) were treated a little pampering from Saje Wellness, MAC Cosmetics, Tweezerman, David’s Tea, and Wiser’s Whiskey. What an incredible experience!

Thank you to TD Canada Trust for inviting us for the most amazing weekend at the JUNOS!